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Chambers Speaks on Yieldedness

Individuality

By Oswald Chambers

Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…” —Matthew 16:24

Individuality is the hard outer layer surrounding the inner spiritual life. Individuality shoves others aside, separating and isolating people. We see it as the primary characteristic of a child, and rightly so. When we confuse individuality with the spiritual life, we remain isolated. This shell of individuality is God’s created natural covering designed to protect the spiritual life. But our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with Him. Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself, but individuality corrupts that human nature for its own purposes.

The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-will. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality. If you say, “I can’t believe,” it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe. But our spirit cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made. The choice is either to say, “I will not surrender,” or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge. The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23-24). It is your individuality that refuses to “be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:24). God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot. “…let him deny himself…”— deny his independent right to himself. Then the real life-the spiritual life-is allowed the opportunity to grow.

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5 thoughts on “Chambers Speaks on Yieldedness”

I like this but I think Mr. Chambers has confused individualism with individuality. Individualism definitely contains an element of selfishness. Individuality is merely what makes each of us unique. God seems to like variety/individuality, just look at all of us.

Doug will reply to this I’m sure but I just want to say to you “reluctant” that I admire this quality in you. That you question, challenge, engage, it is most refreshing if only more people could appreciate this form of truth seeking and honesty. I’d wager that there are those who are put off by this…it is to be embraced fully!
a.g.

This post and T.R.B.’s comments prompted me to do a bit of soul-searching, I had no good answer. But I found this post helpful in understanding these two points being made. Do I fully understand? No, not at this time but by taking it in and meditating upon it I trust a definitive answer will be made perfectly clear if and when there is occasion to know (need to know basis). In this…I trust in the Holy Spirit implicitly! It’s in me somewhere to be accessed and brought to the fore when the Lord wills it, I’ve learned to do this in faith as a regular exercise in belief. I find that answers just float up to the surface from the depths in God’s own perfect timing for us and just might not be that much of a priority presently.
a.g.http://www.nehemiahministries.com/faith-individuality.htm

This post was a follow- up on the concept of yieldedness revealed in the story of Moses and totally missed, I am informed, in the recent film.I always remember the teachings of Chambers in the 2 words yielded and relinquish. Obviously he ia a Sovereignty teacher and not a “name it and claim it” teacher. TRB’s point on individuality is well taken. Always good to be a Berean in checking out teaching…Doug

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I will have succeeded with these gathered thoughts, if just a few hungry hearts are provoked to consider consequence, eternity, an end to present struggle, a glorious reunion, a Covenant with Jesus and a way out of the spiritual bankruptcy of Society's norm (Nehemiah 2: 3-5). Cheers...Doug Blair, Waterloo, ON